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Million-Dollar Commitment from Kappa
Alpha Theta Lays Groundwork for National CASA to Improve Outcomes for
Vulnerable Children

New fundraising campaign strengthens 26-year partnership, funds new best
practice guide and performance measurement initiative to help move field of
child welfare forward

INDIANAPOLIS,
IN and SEATTLE, WA (June 28, 2016)—Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity announced that the
organization’s Foundation will work with local chapters to raise an
unprecedented $1 million over the next three years to support the National Court
Appointed Special Advocate Association (National CASA) in its launch of a
rigorous performance measurement initiative. National CASA was presented an
initial $200,000 gift at Kappa Alpha Theta’s Grand Convention in Phoenix,
Arizona, this past weekend. This groundbreaking investment sets National CASA
on the path to becoming an evidence-based practice and generating new
evidence-based knowledge about outcomes for youth in foster care and in the
court system.

With
financial backing from Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation, National CASA will create
and distribute a new annual publication highlighting the most innovative and
effective practices from its network of nearly 1,000 programs serving children in
49 states and from other leaders in the child welfare arena. The first-of-its-kind
best practices guide will be a go-to resource for policymakers and
practitioners to help generate better and more predictable outcomes for America’s
most vulnerable children.

“To
lead the way in investing in CASA’s impressive plan to become an evidence-based
practice means Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation has the opportunity to make a
difference in communities where Theta doesn’t have chapters, groups or members,
but where there are children who need our support,” said Kappa Alpha Theta
Foundation Executive Director Kristen Kaiser. “By supporting this national
initiative, Thetas can work collectively to make an impact that will be a
source of pride for our fraternity—a lasting promise to the betterment of our
communities and to our nation’s most vulnerable children.”

“We
already know that Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and guardian ad Litem
(GAL) volunteers have a dramatically positive impact on the overburdened foster
care and court system, and we are committed to ensuring that every abused or
neglected child has a caring, consistent adult to advocate for his or her
well-being,” said National CASA Association Chief Executive Officer Tara Perry.
“With Kappa Alpha Theta’s support, we know a performance measurement system
will bring our advocacy to new levels of effectiveness and help National CASA move
the field of child welfare forward for the benefit of children who have
experienced unspeakable trauma and tragedy.”

Speaking
up for abused and neglected children has long been a priority for Kappa Alpha
Theta, which has more than 250,000 initiated members worldwide. Children in
foster care are less likely to graduate from high school, more likely to be trafficked,
and they experience higher rates of incarceration and homelessness as they
enter adulthood. National CASA’s local CASA and GAL member programs across the
United States recruit, train and support volunteers who act as the eyes and
ears of the judge, helping him or her make informed decisions about the best
interests of these at-risk youth.

Last
year, National CASA Association’s network supported more than 76,000 highly
trained adult volunteers and served more than 250,000 children, making National
CASA uniquely qualified to learn more about what interventions matter most for
children in foster care. With a state-of-the-art performance measurement system
in place, National CASA will be able to identify trends and to better
understand which interventions produce the best possible outcomes for these
children, including safety, permanency and the opportunity to thrive.

With
Kappa Alpha Theta’s investment, the initiative will begin immediately and will span
at least three years. National CASA has already assembled a team of experts on
performance measurement and evaluation from leading research institutions and its
own member programs. National CASA will continue to identify new partners to
help improve outcomes for children in need of a champion.

About the Partnership

Since 1989, the Leading Women of Kappa Alpha Theta have
contributed millions of dollars to the National CASA Association and its member
programs. Extending beyond dollars, Kappa Alpha Theta’s more than 350 college
and alumnae chapters and groups have formed close relationships with CASA/GAL
programs in their local communities. Theta’s members serve as court-appointed volunteers,
donors, staff members, board members and champions for a cause that has
captured the hearts of Thetas everywhere. Together, Kappa Alpha Theta and the
National CASA Association have been a powerful voice for children in
communities nationwide.

About the Kappa Alpha
Theta Foundation

Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization
whose mission is to secure and manage resources for the educational,
leadership, and philanthropic programs of Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity, founded
in 1870 as the first Greek-letter fraternity for women. The Foundation also
supports the scholastic, professional, and service pursuits of its members to
help them reach their fullest potential and make a difference in the world.
Theta Foundation grants more than $1.1 million annually in support of Theta
women and chapters, Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity, and other community organizations.
For more information, visit www.KappaAlphaThetaFoundation.org.

About the National
CASA Association

The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association,
together with its state and local member programs, supports and promotes
court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every abused or neglected child in the
United States can be safe, have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive.
Today, more than 76,000 CASA and GAL volunteers serve more than 250,000
children, but approximately 400,000 children are without an advocate. National
CASA Association is working in partnership with its state and local programs in
49 states to close that gap to ensure the highest quality advocacy on behalf of
America’s most vulnerable children. For more information, visit www.CASAforChildren.org.

This Web site is funded in part through a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. Neither the US Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this Web site (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided).